Paddle Imua 2026: Kane DeWilde Flies to SUP Foil Victory as Maui Delivers Epic Downwind Conditions
The 15th edition of Paddle Imua once again showcased why Maui’s legendary Maliko Run remains one of the world’s premier downwind race courses. With steady trade winds ranging from 22 to 28 knots, combined with a small fun northeast swell, competitors enjoyed fast, technical conditions that delivered long glides and endless bumps all the way to Kanahā Beach Park.
Following our pre-event coverage, the race more than lived up to expectations, attracting a strong mix of Hawaii’s best watermen and waterwomen alongside numerous international competitors. One of the standout statistics was the incredible 132 SUP Foil entries, underlining just how dominant downwind foiling has become on Maui and how attractive the event has grown for athletes from around the globe.
Kane DeWilde Sets the Pace
The fastest performance of the day in the SUP Foil division came from Kane DeWilde, who completed the approximately 8-mile Maliko Run in just 20 minutes and 52 seconds. That translates to an astonishing average speed of approximately 23.0 mph (37.0 km/h) over the entire course—an incredible demonstration of what is possible when elite athletes combine skill with perfect Maliko conditions.
DeWilde finished ahead of Edoardo Tanas and Kai Thompson in an exceptionally competitive field.
SUP Foil Men – Top 10
| Place | Athlete | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kane DeWilde | 20:52 |
| 2 | Edoardo Tanas | 21:58 |
| 3 | Kai Thompson | 22:09 |
| 4 | Finn Spencer | 22:28 |
| 5 | Thomas Goyard | 22:41 |
| 6 | Jarrod Snow | 22:42 |
| 7 | Toaura Haumani | 22:47 |
| 8 | Jeffrey Spencer | 22:49 |
| 9 | Raiarii Fadier | 22:51 |
| 10 | Axel Pham | 22:54 |
Annie Reickert Tops the Women’s SUP Foil Race
Among the women, Annie Reickert delivered an impressive performance, crossing the finish line in 25:40 to claim the women’s SUP Foil title.
SUP Foil Women – Top Finishers
| Place | Athlete | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Annie Reickert | 25:40 |
| 2 | Naumi Eychenne | 28:02 |
| 3 | Tomoko Okazaki | 34:00 |
| 4 | Marina Daian | 34:35 |
| 5 | Anna Kalabukhova | 35:46 |
| 6 | Florie Pivert | 37:24 |
| 7 | Caitlin Baxter | 38:50 |
| 8 | Skeeter Tichnor | 40:24 |
Strong Traditional SUP Field
While foil disciplines continue to dominate participation, the traditional Stand Up Paddle division still attracted a quality field led by Roland Graham, who claimed victory in just over one hour.
Stand Up Paddle – Top 10
| Place | Athlete | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roland Graham | 1:01:31 |
| 2 | Takuya Kawahara | 1:02:35 |
| 3 | Warwick Gray | 1:08:08 |
| 4 | Brad Albert | 1:10:12 |
| 5 | Anne-Marie Reichman-Totah | 1:11:05 |
| 6 | Josh DeSilva | 1:17:20 |
| 7 | Kathleen Hagan | 1:18:30 |
| 8 | Ozan Karacagil | 1:34:17 |
| 9 | Matthew Marabito | 1:35:12 |
| 10 | Sarah Nelson | 1:35:34 |
Wing Foil Continues to Impress
The Wing Foil race was equally competitive. Michael Scholes posted the fastest time of the discipline with an impressive 18:54, narrowly ahead of Marley Franco and Bobo Gallagher.
Tatiana Grant was the fastest woman in the fleet, finishing sixth overall with a strong time of 21:49, highlighting the high level of women’s wing foiling on Maui.
Parawing Makes Its Paddle Imua Debut
One of the biggest stories of this year’s Paddle Imua was the introduction of a brand-new Parawing division, reflecting one of the fastest-growing trends in ocean sports.
A total of 39 athletes entered the inaugural race, demonstrating the tremendous interest surrounding the discipline. Jon McCabe took the first-ever Paddle Imua Parawing victory in 23:00, followed by Alex Aguera and Sam Reynolds.
From a personal perspective, this was perhaps the most enjoyable race of the weekend. As the publisher of Stand Up Magazin, I joined the Parawing fleet myself and had an absolute blast. The conditions were simply too good not to be on the water. Unfortunately, a few unexpected swims cost me valuable time, and I crossed the finish line in 45:13—certainly not a result to brag about, but an unforgettable experience nonetheless. Sometimes enjoying the ride is worth more than chasing the stopwatch.
With Parawing growing at such a remarkable pace, its successful debut at Paddle Imua may well be the beginning of a new tradition for one of Maui’s most iconic ocean races.
Stay tuned—our full Stand Up Magazin race video from Paddle Imua 2026 will be released soon, bringing you all the action, interviews, and spectacular Maliko downwind footage from one of the best race days of the Hawaiian summer.
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